Founder Spotlight: Anna Skaya (Basepaws)
Company name: Basepaws
Company blurb: BasePaws has developed an at-home DNA test to provide consumers with genetic data and insights for cats.
Company website: www.basepaws.com
Company headquarters: Los Angeles, CA
Founder’s hometown: Odessa, Ukraine
Founder fun fact: I was on Shark Tank — twice!
Why did you decide to start your company? I love my pet cat, and always wondered what kind of cat she was, and if I was doing everything I could to keep her living longer. It’s frustrating, as a cat parent, to have so much more available for dogs than cats — including innovation, and genetic testing — so I started Basepaws to bring DNA testing, and ultimately better wellness products, to the 100M cats here in the US. I built this product because I wanted it.
What is one thing that you want people to know about your company? We are not just ‘23andMeow’ — Basepaws is building more D2C products and home-based tests beyond genetics. This year we launched a dental biome test to screen for periodontal disease and care for the 70% of all cats that suffer from breeding gums and bad teeth. More products are soon to come too (for cats + dogs!)
When you were younger, what did you want to be when you grew up? Did you always know you wanted to be an entrepreneur? Basepaws is my fourth startup — I founded my first company in London when I was 26 years old, and never looked back. I love being a founder and constantly solving problems with no guidebook. I think of startups as a rubix cube, there are always more than two sides to everything, and you have to be a chess player, slowly weaving solutions together, one move at a time. My parents are both scientists and always wanted me to follow in their footsteps. Only as an entrepreneur can I be ‘playing’ scientist as a founder of a science-based company — it’s an amazing feeling. As a founder, I really believe you can build anything you want (cats?! genetics?!) as long as you know how to build the right team around you.
What is one piece of advice you’d like to pass on to new founders? Grit. Hustle. Hard work. It’s what I think of when I think of my role. There is not so much ‘magic’ beyond the first few months of good ideas and team — once you know the general direction you are going, it’s all about working hard and trying everything, failing, picking yourself up, falling again, moving one step at a time. Be ready to hustle, be ready to grind your teeth and push through, and if you enjoy these types of days, you’ll have a great time. Entrepreneurship is never boring.
